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Benjamin Netanyahu has noted that the first segment of the internationally-supported Gaza halt in hostilities agreement is approaching conclusion, adding that the next stage must involve the demilitarization of Hamas.

Forthcoming Talks in Washington

The Israeli leader said he would address the subsequent actions in late November in Washington with Donald Trump, whose Gaza proposals were outlined in a UN security council resolution on 17 November.

“We are nearing conclude the initial stage,” Netanyahu said. “But we have to make sure that we secure the identical objectives in the next phase, and that’s something I anticipate discussing with President Trump.”

German Chancellor Meets with Netanyahu

The prime minister was speaking at a shared press conference with the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, who said: “Phase two must start immediately and then the third phase must also be considered.”

Merz is the first head of state of a leading European state to confer with Netanyahu in Israel since the international criminal court released arrest warrants for the Israeli prime minister and his former defence minister, Yoav Gallant, in November last year for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

After winning federal elections in February, Merz had said he would invite Netanyahu to Germany notwithstanding the ICC warrants, but clarified on Sunday a visit was not at this time under consideration. Netanyahu dismisses the warrants as “fabricated allegations” from a “corrupt prosecuting office”.

Details of the Current Truce

Under the initial stage of the existing ceasefire agreement, Hamas freed the last 20 living Israeli hostages in return for some 2,000 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, and it has transferred all but one of 28 remains of hostages killed during the war. At the same time, Israeli forces have withdrawn to a truce line, leaving them in occupation of 58% of the Gaza Strip.

Following the ceasefire was put into effect on 10 October, Israeli forces have been responsible for the deaths of more than 360 Palestinians, including an estimated 70 children. Three Israeli soldiers have been killed in Hamas military actions over the same period.

Next Steps and Unclear Sequencing

Neither Trump’s proposals, nor UN security council resolution 2803 which largely supported them, set out a timetable transitioning the ceasefire into a permanent peace. Hamas is supposed to disarm, Israeli troops are supposed to retreat more, and an international stabilisation force (ISF) is to be set up under the control of a “peace board” of world leaders headed by Trump, supervising a technocratic Palestinian committee to run day-to-day governance of Gaza.

The timeline of these actions is unclear in Trump’s proposals or in resolution 2803. In his remarks on Sunday, Netanyahu put his emphasis on Hamas disarmament.

“I think it’s important to make sure that Hamas adheres not only with the ceasefire, but also with their obligation which they agreed to to disarm and have Gaza demilitarized,” he stated.

Possible Alternatives and Diplomatic Stances

Netanyahu raised the prospects of “other options” to the ISF, without elaborating on what those might be. He would not rule out Israeli annexation of the West Bank, labeling it as a subject of “discussion”, and emphasized that Israel was firmly against the establishment of a Palestinian state, the goal of the peace process desired by most European and Arab capitals as well as the overwhelming majority of UN member states.

International Criminal Court Warrants and Legal Proceedings

Netanyahu said the primary reason he would not be able make a reciprocal visit to Germany was the ICC arrest warrants, which he described as invented by the court’s chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, as a means of diverting attention from accusations of sexual harassment against him. Khan has refuted any wrongdoing, but stepped down from his role in May awaiting the conclusion of an inquiry.

Netanyahu said Khan was “harming the credibility of the ICC” with “trumped-up charges of starvation and acts of genocide” from a “corrupt official”.

A separate tribunal, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), is weighing up charges that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza. In September, a UN independent investigative commission concluded that Israel had committed genocide.

Questioned about the prospect of Netanyahu visiting Germany, Merz informed reporters on Sunday: “There is no reason to consider this at the moment.”